Date of Project

4-22-2025

Document Type

Honors Thesis

School Name

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Political Science

Major Advisor

Heather Pruss

Abstract

Solitary confinement is widespread and recognized as harmful in society. However, it is not as researched as other controversial issues, including immigration, gun control, abortion, etc. Due to this, it is hard to gauge how supportive the public is or isn't of related practices. In a general sense, public support has been established by legislators crafting policy, and by extension United States Supreme Court decision making. This is particularly crucial in discussions on interpretations of the 8th Amendment/ cruel and unusual punishment. Existing case law, such as Peoples V. Fischer, found that solitary confinement was arbitrary and needed reform, including protecting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, youth, and those that are developmentally disabled (Peoples V. Fischer 2024). Other existing research includes 2022 polling, finding that there is a bipartisan majority that agrees with "ending all solitary confinement beyond four hours, and only immediately following an emergency situation involving serious physical injury” (Blank 2022). While existing social science research is limited beyond some polling and a few cases, this study will contribute to an understanding of where public opinion stands on the practice of solitary confinement and help pinpoint how policymakers and courts consider its place in the Criminal Justice System.

There are only a handful of studies that look at public opinion toward solitary confinement. These include a sample of 25,000 that found solitary confinement was used in disciplinary forms at higher rates for people of color as compared to white people, as well as male over female, bisexual over heterosexual, and those that had adverse childhoods and mental disorders (Henry 2022). Other limited studies show that certain demographic groups- those that are older, more conservative, identify as white, etc. are more supportive of solitary confinement than others (Smith 2006). This limited scientific research fails to address socioeconomic status, education levels, occupation, among many other demographics. On the other hand, there is broader social science literature on attitudes towards harsh punishment that this study will draw from. This social science research assesses the harmful psychological effects of solitary confinement generally, but also its heightened impact on specific vulnerable groups.

The purpose of this study is to gauge attitudes on solitary confinement. This will be achieved through five specific hypotheses. These include 1) Republicans are more likely to support solitary confinement at greater levels than Democrat and Independent affiliated students, 2) Individuals with past criminal justice/ legal high school or college classes will reject solitary confinement at a higher rate, 3) Those who have a higher level of completed education will not support solitary confinement while those with a lower level of completed education will support solitary confinement, 4) Millennials will reject solitary confinement at a higher rate than Generation x and 5) Those in business/economic centered careers will be more likely to support solitary confinement than those with a career in the legal field/criminal justice. These five hypotheses are not all discoveries anticipated to find, but they provide a basis for the demographics not included in other studies.

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